ERPINGHAM TEACHER STEPHEN FRETWELL BANNED FOR LIFE AFTER SEXUAL ABUSE OF SCHOOLGIRL IN NORFOLK AND WORCS

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Norfolk and Worcestershire, Stephen Fretwell, a former teacher from Erpingham, has been permanently barred from the classroom following allegations of sexual misconduct involving a young girl. The disciplinary tribunal's decision comes after a detailed investigation into Fretwell’s conduct, which revealed a troubling pattern of grooming and abuse spanning several years.

Fretwell, now aged 59, was found to have engaged in a prolonged and inappropriate relationship with a girl he met through his wife’s hockey club. The victim, referred to as Witness A, was not a student of Fretwell’s but was described as a vulnerable individual whom he groomed starting from the age of 14. The relationship lasted for approximately five years, during which Fretwell engaged in sexual activities with her and even recorded videos of their encounters while his wife, a physical education teacher at another school, was away.

The tribunal heard that Fretwell also took photographs of the girl in the nude and performing indecent acts, further evidencing his misconduct. The girl, now in her 40s, testified about the abuse, providing a credible and honest account that the panel found compelling. Despite Fretwell’s claims that their sexual relationship only began after she turned 16, the age of consent, the panel concluded that he had engaged in sexual intercourse with her starting from when she was just 14 years old.

Fretwell’s history includes work at various schools in Norfolk and Worcestershire, and he was previously involved in legal proceedings related to allegations from over three decades ago. In 2017, he was cleared of 30 sex offences at Worcester Crown Court, where a jury found him not guilty of the charges. He maintained that he did not seduce or groom the girl during his teaching career in Droitwich in the 1980s.

However, the disciplinary panel from the National College for Teaching and Leadership, based in Coventry, determined that Fretwell’s actions constituted unacceptable professional conduct that could tarnish the reputation of the teaching profession. The panel’s decision was clear: Fretwell’s conduct was incompatible with the standards expected of educators, and as a result, he has been permanently banned from working in any classroom setting.

Fretwell, who resides in Erpingham, Norwich, is now retired from Norfolk County Council, where he previously worked as a supply teacher. His lifetime ban from the profession underscores the severity of his misconduct and the ongoing efforts to uphold integrity and safety within educational environments.